Chicago man laid groundwork for Mumbai massacre

Posted:
Friday, March 19, 2010 7:44 AM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) -- Federal officials say an American who admitted slipping quietly into the Indian city of Mumbai on scouting missions that led to a deadly 2008 terrorist attack has already started spilling terrorists' secrets.

David Coleman Headley pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Chicago to laying the groundwork for the massacre in Mumbai. He also admitted performing similar surveillance in anticipation of an attack on a Danish newspaper whose cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad were offensive to Muslims.

Federal officials say the Chicago man, 49, has become a valuable asset to the war on terrorism, furnishing information in exchange for a promise that he won't be executed.